I Think This May Well Be Much More Important Than People Realize (4.00 / 9)

One of the problems we face right now is simply the absence of egalitarian social norms which the Great Depression did so much to embed very deeply into 20th Century American culture.  Regan's election in 1980 signaled the beginning of a break with that, and we can see the results in the skyrocketing shares of income and wealth flowing to the top 1% and fewer.

It's telling that here's a company with a warm and fuzzy image, but the reality is actually not much different from any other big business, and that makes it the ideal candidate for a watershed event that signals the start of a switching back to the ethos--the liberal ethos, I might add--that characterized America during the period of her greatest economic growth, and broadest expansion of opportunity for the working and middle class.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

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by: Paul Rosenberg @ Sun Aug 16, 2009 at 21:53:37 PM UTC

One of the things we are contending with (0.00 / 0)

is 3 decades of propaganda idolizing the rich, and propaganda works. Even in movies that were ostensibly cautionary tales against greed such as Wall Street, college boys walked out of that movie wanting to be Gordon Gekko, not the Martin Sheen or Charlie Sheen characters.

This is one of the main reasons why it is so easy for Faux News and their allies to get working class people outraged over the phony idea that the rich paying their fair share constitutes "soaking" them and "punishing success".

I really hope that the tide is turning, but we (that is, the general public) need some education on the issues to make real change stick. Paul, I'd love to see you explore the whole Rich People = Better People propaganda thing that's been going on hyperdrive since the Reagan era. I think it's an essential part of seeing where we've been in order to get to where we want to be.  

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by: Oaktown Girl @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 00:49:32 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Your point is well taken, but mainstream film in this country has served (0.00 / 0)

as hyper-capitalist propaganda almost since it's inception, no? But certainly, I agree, that pop culture is an important part of the picture in these fantasy identifications of the less well off with precisely those that are exploiting them.

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by: sb @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 14:27:34 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Of course, and I was just using a film as an example. (0.00 / 0)

My comment wasn't meant just to be about pop culture. I'm talking about mainstream media news (deregulation and its impact on reporting) and other messaging tools in our culture. Especially since Reagan, there's been a dismissive and sometimes even contemptuous attitude about labor that's distinctly different from the pre-Reagan era. I believe it's a major reason why so few people in this country today refer to them selves as "working class", but will identify as "middle class" no matter how close to the margins they are existing.

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by: Oaktown Girl @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 15:37:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Keep up the good work... (4.00 / 6)

It's finally exposing Whole Foods for what it is: The Wal-Mart of health/organic foods. No one really took it seriously when the unions were warning us about Whole Foods denying workers even a choice on organizing. But hopefully now with so much attention on health care, we can finally get more progressives to realize that Whole Foods isn't really a "progressive" company.

Yes, Virginia, there are progressives in Nevada.

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by: Andrew Davey @ Sun Aug 16, 2009 at 22:19:58 PM UTC

I spammed my facebook friends. (4.00 / 4)

And I never spam. This is important.

Montani semper liberi

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by: Sadie Baker @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 00:36:55 AM UTC

Why boycott Whole Foods over this? (0.00 / 0)

Now, don't get me wrong.  I've not no problem with boycotts as a concept and if I weren't unemployed and broke, I'd probably boycott Whole Foods now just because of my inherent distaste for corporate douchbags in general.  Having said that, what exactly is the purpose of this particular one?  Is it to punish a company for some dishonest CEO's dishonest diatribe?  Are we really trying to punish people for opinions we don't like?  That's not American, and it's not in keeping with the spirit of the First Amendment to the Constitution.  Again, I've no problem with boycotting Whole Foods as a matter of progressive principle against corporate douchebaggery.  But I shy away from boycotts generated in response to unpopular opinions.  I'm just saying, if you're going to keep this up, do it for the right reasons.

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by: Michael Kwiatkowski @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 13:06:32 PM UTC

Boycotts, (0.00 / 0)

like strikes, are part of a long and honorable tradition of non-violent resistance.

Not as dramatic as guns and bombs maybe, but they actually have a better record of success.

Montani semper liberi

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by: Sadie Baker @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 13:24:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Like I said, I'm not against boycotts as a conceot. (0.00 / 0)

I'm just not sure that this particular one is being carried out for the right reasons, or if it is, that those reasons are being clearly and definitively stated.

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by: Michael Kwiatkowski @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 14:21:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Tremayne laid out the argument here: (0.00 / 0)

http://www.dailykos.com/storyo...

It was convincing enough for me.

Montani semper liberi

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by: Sadie Baker @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 15:03:42 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What *is* the point? (0.00 / 0)

You're happy about Fox running this story?

Shouldn't it be Fox and its advertisers you're boycotting?

Obama, Rahm & Sibelius are abandoning the public option - but you're wasting your energies on a health food CEO who isn't even involved in the reform effort? "I am liberal, hear me roar!!!"

I wrote a bit of response to the "pack of lies" assessment of Mackey's comments.

I still haven't heard anyone tell me how many other Fortune 500 companies besides Whole Foods let their employees vote on health care benefits. But from what everyone keeps screaming, Mackey is just like all those other right-wing nuts.

But this is truly amazing overall. Mackey isn't accused of doing anything badly. He's accused of speaking his opinion - not in a racist way, a sexist way, not inciting people to violence. And for giving that opinion, he must be destroyed economically (even if it hurts progressive Whole Foods employees), or else he must crawl on his hands and knees to beg progressives' forgiveness.

And of course there's all this pent-up anger surging forward - the CEO of a health food company turned out to be a capitalist!!! He tried to make a profit!!! Curses, who could believe it. And those foods, they cost more than Safeway - it's expensive!!!

Have your little tea party. It stinks as much as right wing ones do, but everybody must have their little dance. Tra la la.

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by: Desider @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 14:55:49 PM UTC

You're right. (0.00 / 0)

If only we could all be good little bootlickers like you, I'm sure the masters would be nicer to us.

Montani semper liberi

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by: Sadie Baker @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 15:04:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sadie (0.00 / 0)

I know it's impossible for you to overcome your pathetic state, not that you ever try, so I'll just acknowledge you lapping at my heels everywhere I go.

Seize the day!

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by: Desider @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 15:30:00 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hey (0.00 / 0)

at least I'm a real Southerner.

Montani semper liberi

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by: Sadie Baker @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 15:36:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Have you finished your dance? (4.00 / 2)

If these folks are wasting their time on this issue, what of the time you've spent attacking them?

It's great that you support Mr. Mackey's right to express his opinion. I agree.

Why do you refuse to extend that same right to former customers of his capitalist corporation?  If I don't agree with some aspect (any aspect) of any business, why shouldn't I have the right to express that dissatisfaction by imposing personal economic sanctions on that business?

"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."

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by: SpitBall @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 15:36:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm speaking up for free speech (0.00 / 0)

In general I don't think people's opinion should be met with boycotts or other threats.

If people self-censor because they're afraid of economic and other repercussions, then the marketplace of ideas suffer, the concept of free speech and democracy suffers.

"Go ahead, speak up - we'll only try to destroy your life if we disagree, but really, everyone's welcome to their own opinion".

To me it's worse than the undemocratic Republicans shouting people down at the Town Halls. There Republicans were destroying the democratic exchange of ideas, but they weren't destroying individuals as well.

But I guess no one here really cares about the spirit of liberal democracy, they just want to "win" at all costs.

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by: Desider @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 21:14:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Please identify which individuals have been destroyed (0.00 / 0)

"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."

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by: SpitBall @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 21:46:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I still don't know what Mackey *said* that was so wrong (0.00 / 0)

I've really tried to look back at the posts here on the boycott, but I don't what the objection is.  I've read the editorial multiple times.  Other than the fact that he does not support single payer, which neither does Obama (at least in public), what did he say that was so bad?  If you look at his bulleted points from the editorial, they are all perfectly reasonable.  Other than tort reform, I can't see any intelligent unbiased person objecting to any of them.

Progressives have called for more competition in health care insurance.  That's a reason for the public option.  Well, so does Mackey.

He calls for giving individuals tax breaks, comparable to what corporations get.  Any complaints?  Don't we spend a lot of time here complaining about unfair breaks for corporations?

He calls for more transparency.  He calls for easier access to high-deductible insurance and HSAs, which are a good solution for many younger/healthier Americans.  As I recall, John Kerry proposed catastrophic insurance for all Americans, which is essentially what high-deductible insurance provides.  Are we boycotting Kerry?

He calls for an easy way to contribute money to provide insurance for the uninsured.  That's called "putting your money where your mouth is".

Outside of the bullets, he gets more political, but it does seem clear to me that the current deficits are unmaintainable, and that there is no "right" to health care in the Constitution.  (Maybe there should be, but there isn't)

Since the overwhelming majority of the editorial seems patently true and reasonable, what's the boycott for?

If the real reason is that Mackey doesn't support single-payer, he has plenty of company, including Obama and much of our Democratic Party.  Pick on them.  Boycotting Whole Foods is a pointless feel-good exercise, and will not convince your President, Senators and Representatives to risk their political capital and support single-payer.  

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by: MorganConrad @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 16:01:45 PM UTC

If you don't see why Mackey is wrong (0.00 / 0)

that says more about you than him.

Montani semper liberi

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by: Sadie Baker @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 16:07:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

No, it really doesn't. (0.00 / 0)

Your whole concept of "right" and "wrong" is just based on your preference and your misreading of anyone you want to find fault with. "Oh, Mackey used a Thatcher quote, so I must go in for the kill." "Oh, Mackey's bringing up trillion dollar deficits, he's acting just like all Republicans". I pointed out elsewhere that Canada really has a "Wait Time Alliance" funded with billions of dollars to bring down wait times in their health system - seems like they feel they have a problem, even if US progressives want to wish those feelings away. (That doesn't mean they want to trade their system for ours - they just feel they wait too long for a number of treatments, many of which are not urgent, but after a year you get tired of waiting).

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by: Desider @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 21:22:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]